The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-01

"You nave been studying the law,
suppose, i'll anticipation of the present
difficulty, have you?' a.a.H.
| "No, sir; / havn't read one word of
law; and anticipated no difficulty. for
thought it was understood that Belle
was to be your heir ..sl.
! "Did I ever tell you so, or Belle
either ?''
81 don't know that you said it in SO
many words. But everybody regarded
| her as your heir" ..
s'Then everybody has reckoned with
out the host"
| "Don't you remember it was men
toned in your presence by neighbor,
and you didn't contradict it? I've
never had any other thought than that
she would be your heir. Founding a
hospital is a mere whim of yours-a
freak of dotage-the foolish dream of
an invalid, which the law will not
permit. I should like to know what
Belle has done to make you hate her."
"Heaven knows l do not hate her,"
"Ycur conduct proves that you do,
sir. Why have you made no provision
for her, if you care for her ?"
| "Why, madam, tho best thing can
do for Belle is to learn her self-reliance.
She does not know the value of a dol
lar. Let her make her own living like
other people do. She is far more fortu-
nate than the poor people whom my
money is to support in the hospital
which is to be erected with my MEANS"
| 90, fiddle-sticks!" exclaimed the
lady in undisguised disgust and vexa-
tion, tsit makes me sick to hear you
talk this way. When did you learn to
be 90 generous and philantbropic? /
never knew you to express sympathy
for poor people till you made that fool
ish VIII. But l tell you, you may as
well write another, and give the prop
eriy to tho righiful heir"
"Well, this beats all the impudence
land audacity I ever saw in my Itfe,"
'lexclaimed Uncle Joe with rising anger.
ssTo come into my house, call me fool,
and command me TO make will to
suit your notions-weii, I suppose il
has no parallel in human experience.
i You and Belle seem not to have par.
tic!e of gratitude. + guess If were to
make 4 will to suit you, you'd want
me to die, aud get out Of the way"
80, Uncle" exclaimed Belle, who
had been weeping all the time her pa
rent was talking. "You are 50 cruel
, to me! What have l done to deserve
your abuse? I don't want your prop
erly. 1t was mama was sorry for. l
can make my own living. am not
tho baby you take me for, and will
prove it to you. DO as you please with
/ your money, but l beg you not to call
me ungratetul: for that hurts me more
Than anything you can say. l shalt
not try to break your will, neither shall
name. l can take care of her."
} 'Now, that's the way to talk" said
} Uncle Joe. "Don't whine, but put
your shoulder to the wheel, aud prove
TINT you are capable of making and
. managing money, and show that you
, are worthy to be an heir. like your
) pluck. When you get ready to begin
work, let me know. L would rather
r give you five thousand dollars to start
: you in some business than fifty to be
spent in idicness. Now let me give
. you a little piece of advice. You have
u selfish disposition, and il you ere no
81 have no such thing" interrupted
: Belle peevishIy.
d "But l know you better than 20,
II know yourself" replied Uncle Joe em
II irhatically. "Now listen to me. Go
h learn to do something useful striv
against your selfish spirit; think G
y other people; try to make friends the
e you will become independent, an
have reason to feel proud of yourself.
n "Tbank you" answered Belle in sue
l. a tone that her uncle could not deter
u mine whether she rendered her graft
<, tude in mockcry or sincerity. Lookin
u straight at her for a moment, he said
- care you mad with me?"
n "No, sir,' replied Belle in the sam
W dubious tone.
"Well, thep," said the old mar
"take what 1 have said in a spirit {
l kindness, act upon it, and tell yot
II you will never regret it,
II Belle made TO answer, but sat iool
ing through the window thousbtfull
ID and seriously. What was the natul
of her reflections" If audible EXPIRE
r sion had been given to her cogitation
sf Uncle Joe would have been Il lit
a. startled by these words:
" cIf uncle thinks l am going to
or a washer-wuman he win find he
IS mistaken. 1t never was intended th
% I should labor for my living: am Il
il! dclica,ely organized for that. The
se beautiful hands were never made to
sh pricked with needles. / am his leg
Nv heir. | do not believe he can che
Ike me out Of his property, and il is II
determination that he shall not. l "
l.,t. - in no l.,